Have you ever thought, “that squirrel is super friendly,” or “wow, he is really lazy” or “that squirrel is a total jerk?” Well, you may not be far off in that assessment! Researchers have been studying our furry tree friends and have noticed that they display certain personality traits in four areas: boldness, aggressiveness, activity level and sociability. These traits directly influence the squirrels use of space and how they interact with their environment. Accounting for how animals react to external stimulus will help with conservation efforts.
The exploration of animal personality is only in its infancy in the scientific field. Of course, many of us probably have a number of stories about our cats, dogs, cows or pigs all having personality quirks. Now, with some scientific backing, we can possibly try to understand why squirrels are forgetting their nuts everywhere. Or at least find out what their favorite nut is (pistachio or walnut… the world waits in anticipation). All in all, this a great move forward for conservationist and environmentalists. Having a more thorough understanding of the emotional impacts that we can have on our furry friends will impact how we share our resources with them and how we develop in and around their habitats.
Video source: UC Davis
